The Travel Agent Guide
The Travel Agent Guide is a podcast created for travel advisors at every stage of their journey.
Each episode shares practical tips, real-world experiences, and honest conversations about building a successful travel advisor business—from client boundaries and workflows to marketing, growth, and sustainability.
Whether you’re new to the industry or looking to refine how you work, this podcast is here to help you work smarter, feel more confident, and grow with intention.
The Travel Agent Guide
1.9 5 Things Your Assistant Should be Doing for You
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Most travel advisors think they need more time.
In reality, they need more support.
In this episode, we pull back the curtain on what a fully trained assistant (and a true pre-departure team) can handle for you—so you can stay focused on sales, client relationships, and growth.
From forgotten insurance quotes to hotel reconfirmations, missing payments, and last-minute travel chaos, this conversation breaks down the behind-the-scenes tasks that keep trips smooth and clients obsessed.
What You’ll Learn:
- Why travel insurance is one of the most overlooked (and most profitable) follow-ups
- How assistants handle insurance quotes so you don’t miss commission opportunities
- What a pre-departure hotel reconfirmation email should include (and why it saves trips)
- How to request complimentary amenities + handwritten notes—without spending a dime
- The difference between a client-facing assistant vs. a backend detail-checker
- How pre-departure checks prevent booking drops, payment issues, and itinerary mistakes
- How support teams can organize vouchers, trip documents, and itinerary details
- Why delegating “non-sales” tasks helps you scale faster (and stay sane)
Timestamps:
00:00 – The most forgotten task: travel insurance
00:14 – How a pre-departure team keeps insurance + follow-ups handled
00:43 – Why hotel reconfirmations matter (and what can go wrong if you skip them)
01:06 – Handwritten notes + complimentary amenities: the simple ask that creates wow moments
02:00 – What a trained assistant can take off your plate immediately
03:00 – Letting go of control: the mindset shift that changes everything
04:06 – The real ROI: how support helped scale from $300k to $600k in sales
06:40 – Pre-departure vs. guest experience: why these roles are different
07:01 – Reconfirming hotels and preventing the “reservation wasn’t paid” nightmare
11:43 – What a full pre-departure check includes (and how long it actually takes)
14:10 – Past-due commission follow-ups + client thank-you notes
15:11 – Insurance workflow: quotes, reminders, and peace of mind
17:42 – Automations + final booking checks to protect commissions
20:04 – Transfer reconfirmations: preventing travel-day disasters
21:00 – Guest experience support: passports, TSA numbers, dining, spas, and special requests
27:45 – Real-life problem solving: when your assistant saves the day
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